Signal device.



M. F. SITTA.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-20, I914.

Patented June '8, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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METHOLD F. SITTA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'NIETHOLD F. SITTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices and has particular application to a telephone answering device. It is to be understood, however, that the invention in its useful application is not limited to this particular purpose, as the same may be employed in other connections.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a telephone answering device whereby in the event of a party leaving his residence for instance and a second party calling up the first party in the absence of the latter, an annunciator will operate automatically to advise the calling party of the absence of the first party.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described which may be adjusted so that the calling party will be automatically advised as to the time that the called party expects to return.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a telephone answering device which may be connected in the ringing circuit around the bell and which will be automatically thrown into action upon the current flowing through the ringing circuit, and whereby the break in the transmitter circuit will be automatically closed upon the actuation of the annunciator so that the sounds emitting there from will be transmitted over the line to the calling party. Y

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a top plan View of a telephone bell box and answering device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the answering device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the casing of the answering device taken at right angles to Fig. 2, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the telephone answering device. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view therethrough. Fig. 6 1s a diagrammatic view showing the various circuit connections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, A designates my improved telephone answerin g device as an entirety, such device comprising, in the present instance, a casing l of any suitable construction, such casing having top, bottom, side and end walls. Formed in the top wall of the casing transversely thereof and adjacent to the front end wall is a slot 2, while adjacent to the slot is a sight opening 3, and formed in the front wall of the casing adjacent to the top wall and one side wall thereof is a short vertical slot l. J ournaled in the opposite side walls of the casing approximately centrally thereof is a horizontal shaft 5, While loosely surrounding the shaft within the casing is a hollow drum 6. In the present instance, the periphery of the drum is equipped with a plurality of annular flanges 5, thirteen in number, spaced apart equal distances and forming twelve annular channels a, b, a, d, e, f, g, h, 2', j, k and Z. The lower wall of each channel is formed with one or more teeth 6 and in this case the lower wall of the channel a is formed with one tooth, the similar Wall of the channel 1) with two teeth, the lower wall of the channel c with three teeth, etc., the number of teeth in the channels increasing progressively from the left hand side of the drum in Fig. 3 toward the right hand side. Disposed within the slot 2 in the top wall of the casing 1 and capable of sliding movement therein is a pin 7, while pivoted to the inner end of the pin is a horizontal spring finger 8 having one end extending outwardly through the front wall of the casing by way of the slot 4 and provided with a tapper 9 adapted to strike a bell 10 supported upon a bracket 11 securedto the front wall of the casing. Connected to the inner end of the finger 8 is a dog 12 adapted to By means of this construction, 1

responding to the number of teeth in the lower wall of the channel within which the dog 12 lies. For instance, should the dog 12 lie within the channel Z, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the drum rotate, the teeth 6 within such channel will alternately engage and release the dog so that the tapper 9 will strike the bell 1O twelve timespincident to the number of teeth within such channel.

By 'means of the spring finger 8 the inner end thereof will move through an angle equal to the height of each tooth, while the outerend will engage the bell 1O irrespective of the position of the arm.

In-order' to hold the pin '7 in the desired adjusted position, any suitable means may be employed. In this instance, the upper end of the pin is screw threaded and equipped with a thumb nut .14 coeperating with a collar 15 fixed on the pin adjacent to the inner end thereof and engaging the under surface of the top wall of the casing.

The top wall of the casing adjacent to one side of the slot 2 is preferablymarked off as at 16 to indicate the positions'of the various channels, while the pin 7 is equipped with an indicating finger 17 movable over the marks.

In the present instance, the drum is roratchet wheel 20- engaged by a spring pressed pawl 21 pivoted upon the side wall of the casing. By means of the handle 19 the shaft 5 may be rotated to place the spring 18 under tension, while the pawl and ratchet 21 and 20 respectively prevent retrograde movement of the shaft in the winding thereof.

In order to hold the drum normally against rotation under the action of the spring 18, I employ a holding device comprising, in the present instance, a disk 22 loosely surrounding the shaft concentrically thereof and fastened to one side of the drum 6 and having a notch 23 formed in the periphery thereof. Pivoted within a bracket 24: secured to the adjacent side wall of the casing is one end of a lever 25 having a lug '26 formed thereon and normally 'engaging the notch 23 in the periphery of the disk 22 thereby holding the disk and drum against rotation about the shaft. Depending from the free'end of the lever 25 and pivotally connected thereto is a link 27 having the lower end thereof pivotally connected with an arm 28 fulcrumed' between its ends upon a bracket 29 secured to the adjacent side wall of the casing. In the present instance, the outer end of the arm 28 is equipped with an armature 30 disposed within the influence of the pole of an electromagnet 31. Thus, when the magnet 31 is energized and thearmature 80 drawn into engagement with the pole thereof the arm 28 swings about its pivotal connection with the bracket 29 with the effect to elevate the link 27 and the lever 25. thereby disengaging the lug 26 from the notch 23 in the disk 22. Upon the release of the disk 22 the spring 18 acts-to revolve the drum through one complete revolution.

In practice, the rear wall of the casing is suitably fastened to one side of the bell box of the telephone as clearly illustrated in Fig. I 1 and one terminal of the magnet 31 is connected by way of a conductor with one contact of a two-way switch 33, while the remaining terminal of the magnet 18 connected by way of a conductor 34 with the receiver hook contact, as clearly illustrated in Fig. This two-way switch 83 is suitably mounted upon the bell boX as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the pivot point of the blade thereof is connected with one of the line Wires, while the remaining contact thereof is connected with the magnets'of the polarized bell.

When the occupant of the residence, oliice or other place in which the device is in stalled wishes to leave the premises and intends to return at a specified time say, twelve o7clock, the pin? is moved along the slot 2 in the top wall of the casing 1 until the dog 12 on the'inner end of the arm 8 connected with said pin lies within thechannel Z. The binding nut .14 is now manipulated to render the pin stationary within the slot and hold the dog within therespective channel. T he two way switch is now actuated to break the circuit through the winding of the bell. magnets and connect the conductor 32 with the line so that when a ringing current is sent over the line, such current will flow through the conductor 82, the magnet 31, the conductor 34, the contact beneath the arm'of the receiver fork, the respective part of the fork and back to the line thereby energizingthe magnet 31 and releasing the disk 22 as previously described. Upon the release of the disk 22, the drum 6 revolves under the action of the spring 18' and the teeth within the channel Z alternately engage and release the dog 12 with the result that the tapper 9 strikes the bell 1O twelve distinct times. In order that these sounds produced by the bell will be transmitted over the line to the calling end so that the calling party will be advised as to the time of return of the called party, I employ means for bridging the break in the transmitter circuit, such means, in this incured to one side wall of the casing immestance, comprising a binding post 35 sediately above the end of the lever 25 connected with the link 27 and provided with a spring contact finger 36 disposed in the path of movement of the lever 25 and adapted to be engaged by the latter when the disk 22 is relieved of the influence of the lug 26, and a binding post 37 connected with the bracket 24: supporting the pivot end of the lever 25. The binding posts 35 and 37 are connected with the contacts above the arm of the receiver fork. Thus, when the lever 25 moves upwardly under the action of the magnet 31 to release the drum, such lever engages the contact finger 36 thereby bridging the transmitter circuit so that the sounds produced by the bell will be sent over the line to the calling party.

I preferably employ an indicator whereby the absent party may, upon his or her return, ascertain whether or not a call has been received. In this embodiment of my invention this indicator comprises a pair of guides 37 secured to the under face of the top wall of the casing l at the opposite longitudinal edges of the opening 3, and a plate 38 mounted for sliding movement within such guides and provided at one end with a depending finger 39 disposed in the path of movement of a lug 40 extending radially from one of the flanges 5 on the periphery of the drum and-normally in engagement with the finger 39. The upper surface of this plate 38 is provided with suitable indicia such as the word Call and when the drum revolves under the action of the spring the finger 4:0 in engagement with the lug 39 slides the plate 38 within the guides 37 so that the word upon the plate is visible through the opening 3.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. .It will be seen that I have provided a telephone answering device whereby in the event of the absence of the called party, the calling party will be automatically advised as to the time that the absent party expects to return. Furthermore, it will be seen that my telephone answering device may be readily and conveniently installed without necessitating any changes in the telephone set.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood- 1. In a telephone answering device, the

combination with a telephone, of an annunciator, means for actuating said annunciator, an electroresponsive device controlling said actuating means, means for cutting the bell out of the ringing circuit and connecting said electroresponsive device therein, and means for bridging the break in the transmitter circuit upon the energization of said electroresponsive device.

2. In a telephone answering device, the combination with a telephone, of an annunciator, a spring motor for actuating said annunciator, an electroresponsive device controlling said motor, means for cutting the telephone bell out of the ringing circuit and connecting said electroresponsive device therein, and means for bridging the break in the transmitter circuit upon the energization of said electroresponsive device.

3. In a telephone answering device, the combination with a telephone, of an annunciator, a spring motor for actuating said annunciator, an electroresponsive device controlling said motor, means for cutting the telephone bell out of the ringing circuit and connecting said electroresponsive device therein, and means operable from said electroresponsive device for bridging the break in the transmitter circuit upon the energization of said device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

METHOLD F. SITTA.

Witnesses:

CnnL S. MIKL, OSTON SITTA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

